Your next new car is likely to be loaded with all sorts of digital technology – and the software to run it. And that means it may know “a lot about you.” And how that information is used has raised growing privacy concerns. That’s why the U.S. Commerce Dept. may impose restrictions on the use of software coming from China.
General Motors
GM CEO Mary Barra Backtracks on EV Goals, Confirms Push Into Hybrids
GM CEO Mary Barra confirms that the company has backtracked on its EV plans as slowing growth in the segment is forcing the company to shift towards expanding into PHEV and hybrids in an attempt to comply with tightening efficiency and emissions standards.
Automated Driving Systems Aren’t Improving Safety, Finds New Study
More than half of the automotive models now on sale offer some form of partial automation, whether to help steer, brake or accelerate. Manufacturers have promoted these technologies as a way to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities – but, with the exception of front automatic emergency braking, a new study finds “partial automation…doesn’t confirm additional safety benefits.”
Biden Administration Doles Out $1.1B to GM, Stellantis to Convert Plants to EV Production
Although EV sales aren’t going at breakneck speed these days, automakers are still churning out new models and planning for future models. To make that easier, the Biden administration awarded $1.1 billion in grants to General Motors and Stellantis to convert existing plants to build electric vehicles and components. Get details at Headlight.News.
2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Will Reportedly Have Flagship Pricing
The Cadillac Escalade IQ is shaping up to be a key player in the flagship luxury SUV segment with the brand hoping that the large SUV will be able to carve a slice of the market for itself while also pushing the brand into new territory. Pricing was rumored to be befitting of its flagship role and a new report appears to shine additional clarity on the matter.
Foreign Brands Now Produce More Vehicles in the U.S. than Detroit’s Big Three
It’s been four decades since Honda started building Accords at a new plant in Marysville, Ohio. Today, foreign-owned manufacturers are producing more vehicles in the U.S. than Detroit’s Big Three. And the gap is only expected to widen, in part due to local production mandates covering battery-electric vehicles, reports Headlight.News.
Hackers Hijack June Sales, Automakers Report Mixed Sales Picture
Hackers blurred the sales picture for June. But it appears that overall demand was less than stellar, major brands like GM, Toyota and Hyundai reporting modest declines for the second quarter overall. That said, EV sales were stronger than anticipated — with one key exception.
Who Says EV Sales Are Slowing? Tesla, Maybe – But Not GM, Ford, Toyota or the Koreans
It’s become conventional wisdom that EV sales are slowing. With one high-profile exception, the latest numbers would tell you quite the opposite is true. As data roll in for June and the second quarter we’re seeing a number of manufacturers reporting solid increases...
Automakers Demand Rollback of New Pedestrian Safety Rules
With fatalities rising fast, NHTSA has enacted rules requiring the use of sophisticated detection and auto-braking technologies intended to protect pedestrian – as well as those riding bicycles and motorcycles. But automakers are pushing back, claiming they can’t meet the new mandates set to go into effect in 2029.
New Tariffs Force Volvo to Delay U.S. Launch of Chinese-Made EX30 EV
Volvo has “delayed” the U.S. launch of the EX30 battery-electric vehicle due to new tariffs on Chinese-made EVs announced in May by the Biden administration. That delay appears likely to last until at least sometime in 2025 when the automaker plans to begin production of the EX30 at a second plant in Ghent, Belgium.
Automakers Face “The Most Uncertain and Volatile” Times in Industry History
The auto industry is in the midst of the most unsettling shake-up its seen in more than a century and that’s likely force radical change in not only what products manufacturers bring to market but how and where they sell them. For one thing, Detroit automakers should consider pulling out of China, said Bank of America analyst John Murphy as part of his annual “Car Wars” study.
No CarPlay or Android Auto? No Sale, A Third of Car Buyers Say
Today’s cars are designed to pair up with personal devices, such as smartphones, typically through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But some automakers, notably General Motors, are dropping those features in favor of “native,” or built-in, systems. They do so at their own peril, according to a new survey showing a third of new vehicle buyers won’t buy such vehicles.